Archive

Russian ETFs – which have been one of the worst performers this year – took a breather after the Russian central bank recently announced a major policy shift. The central bank would now allow the value of the ruble to float freely Read more…

While the ceasefire deal signed between Russia and Ukraine early in the month cooled off the five-month long bloody conflict, Russian woes are likely to continue spiraling, at least for the short term. Read more…

European and Russian equities rallied on news of a ceasefire agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko. The ceasefire agreement has raised hopes to put an end to several months Read more…

George Leong: It began with the battle for Crimea, followed by the shooting down of Malaysian flight ML17 in eastern Ukraine, but for Russia, which was blamed for both, there has been a battle over the strength of its economy, triggered by a multitude Read more…

George Leong: Simply put, if Russia is held accountable, the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight ML17 in eastern Ukraine could destabilize the situation in the region and filter into the eurozone and Europe. That’s bad news. Read more…

While Iraq has dominated the geopolitical stage this week (and with good reason), there’s still some crazy stuff going on in Ukraine. Earlier this week Russian natural gas giant Gazprom OAO(MCX:GAZP) shut off the flow of its product to Ukraine. Then last night a portion of a Read more…

Marshall Hargrave: The market is near all-time highs, with the S&P 500 index up over 175% since its 2009 low. Billionaire David Einhorn believes we are amidst the second tech bubble in 15 years. Famed investor Jim Rogers isn’t sticking around Read more…

Last month, Standard & Poor downgraded its outlook on Russia from stable to negative to reflect “material and unanticipated economic and financial consequences” from the ban imposed on the nation by the West following its Crimea annexation. Read more…

George Leong: The situation in Crimea should be closely monitored as it pertains to Europe and the eurozone. Russia is a major trading partner with the eurozone as well, supplying about 40% of the energy requirements in the area. That is why an escalation in Crimea Read more…

George Leong: The eurozone and Europe are showing progress in finally getting out of their dismal multiyear double-dip recession; however, the uncertainties and hostilities unfolding in the Crimea region of Ukraine, which are threatening to escalate, Read more…

On March 16, 2014, Russia finally clinched Crimea’s support as over 96% of the Crimean population voted to be a part of Russia. The referendum was the result of the more than four-month-long unrest between Russia and Ukraine. Read more…

Emerging market equity ETFs have had outflows of $4.3 billion for the month of November so far. Outflows total $9.4 billion year-to-date. What we’re seeing here is that investors are very concerned about a potential tapering by the Federal Reserve in the near term. Read more…

David Fessler: Most income-oriented investors don’t have Vladimir Putin’s name in mind when searching for high-yield stocks. Perhaps they should. In November 2012, Russia’s strong-arm leader began requiring that state-owned Read more…

It has been a brutal stretch for many of the world’s top emerging markets in 2013, as several have struggled to keep their stock prices afloat in year-to-date terms. Top markets like Brazil and India have slumped under the weight of their currencies, Read more…

Are Russian stocks a buy? Some of the smartest people I know think so. At dinner with hedge fund-great Jim Rogers in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, he told me it was his favorite world equity market, although he was tight-lipped about what he was Read more…